Over the weekend, the European team destroyed the U. S. squad in the Solheim Cup. In the past, there had never been any doubt about my rooting interests -- I pulled for the American team. This time, it was a bit difficult. For one thing, Europe's captain was Liselotte Neumann. Lotte had always been my favorite player on the LPGA Tour -- only partly because her last name is the same as my mother's maiden name and because Lotte refused to have it Americanized to "new-man," even after moving to the U.S. She has always insisted on the proper pronounciation -- "noy-man."
But, that's only a small part of the reson for my mixed rooting interests in 2013. A larger part was the fact that two of Europe's players were former Oklahoma State University Cowgirls. Both are named Caroline -- one Hedwall and the other Masson. I've been predicting for some time that the former will soon be one of the world's top players. Hedwall's performance over the weekend bears me out. Today's papers carry the news about her incredible feat:
Caroline Hedwall, a ferocious Swede playing in only her second Solheim Cup, doesn’t know what it’s like to lose. The only player in the [history of] the competition to win all five matches, Hedwall became the first player to win five points.
“I’m just shaking,” said Hedwall after making a 4-foot birdie putt on the last hole to defeat Michelle Wie and assure the Europeans of taking the Cup. Hedwall called it the best moment of her life.
Wow!
